phpMyAdmin allows you to import databases up to 256 MB, sometimes slightly less if the database has a large number of rows. If importing your database with phpMyAdmin failed, you can use SSH instead by following these steps:
Step 1 - Preparations
Upload the database to your website's public_html folder – you can do it via FTP or with the File Manager
If you are unsure about the value of your database password, change it
Step 2 - Connecting via SSH
Connect to your hosting account via SSH
If the database backup file is displayed – go to the next step
If you do not see the backup file, double-check using the File Manager that the file is indeed uploaded and placed in the public_html folder
Step 3 - Importing the Database
If the database is in compressed format (.sql.gz) use the following command to extract it so it's in .sql format:
gzip -d database_name.gz.sql
Make sure to replace database_name with your database's actual name.
To import the database, use this command:
mysql -u database_username -p database_name < file.sql
If the parameters of your database are:
MySQL Database name: u123456789_database
MySQL Username: u123456789_admin
Uploaded database file: database.sql
The command will look like this:
mysql -u u123456789_admin -p u123456789_database < database.sql
After that, you will need to enter the database password - the importing process will start immediately. When it is completed, a new line will appear:
-bash-4.2$
Keep in mind that the import will take some time, depending on the size of your database.
That’s it! Now you know how to import your MySQL database 😊